Bench vise



Oct. 31, 1961 J. w. PoYsA 3,006,226

BENCH vIsE Filed Sept. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN W. -POYSA IN VENTOR.

Wawy/(lm.

A TTORNE Y Oct. 31, 1961 J. w. PoYsA 3,006,226

BENCH VISE 3 Shees-Sheel 2 5 air F/G. 6

Filed sept. 15, 1958 D 10a 7 I3 JOHN W. POYSA INVENTOR.

l//V/ I BY A TTORNE Y J. W. POYSA BENCH VISE Oct. 31, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEY i JOHN W. POYSA.

United States Patent O 3,006,226 BENCH VISE John W. Poysa, 3001 W.Verdugo Ave., Burbank, Calif. Filed Sept. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 761,036 2Claims. (Cl. 81-3S) This invention relates to vises and particularly tomanually operated vises for holding work items while being subjected tofabricating or repairing operations by hand operated tools.

The do it yourself trend in construction and repair work has created ademand for a vise for the home workship which is of low cost and simpleconstruction, yet rugged and capable of holding large articles such as awooden board as well as small articles such a nail. The conventionaltype of vise has a fixed jaw with a base member for attaching the viseto a solid fixture and a movable jaw for gripping and releasing thearticle to be worked on. Movement of the movable jaw is conventionallyobtained by providing it with a screw which engages a nut xed to thebody of the lixed jaw or engages threads formed on the body of the xedjaw itself. In the type of vise in which the nut is incorporated in thestructure of the xed jaw and solidly secured thereto, one of thedisadvantages lassociated with that construction is the difficulty ofremoving the nut for cleaning, oiling or replacement with a new nut. Oneof `the objects of the present invention is the provision of a vise inwhich the nut is securely and internally attached to the fixed jaw andyet is easily removable without disassembly of the `two jaws.

Another disadvantage of many previously known vises is that they havebeen limited in the size of the work items which may be gripped by thelimits of movement of the movable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw. Oneobject of this invention is the provision of a vise with attachments soconstructed that they may be mounted on the xed and movable jaws andenable the vise to grip work articles of which the smallest dimension isgreater than the maximum span between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw.The vise and attachments of this invention are capable of grippingarticles having a dimension between the gripped surfaces greater thanthe maximum grip of fthe vise itself.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple attachmentwhich by its construction makes it possible `to securely grip roundarticles of both small and large diameters and which may be readily andsolidly attached to the fixed and movable jaws.

The invention may of course take various forms of embodiment withoutdeparture from the essential nature of the invention. The details ofconstruction of a preferred form of vise of this invention is shown inthe drawings 4and described in the specification. It is to be understoodhowever, that the invention may take other forms and yet come within thedescriptive language of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a vise constructedin accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan sectional view taken along the line 2 2 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3--3 ofFIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view along line 5--5 of FIGURE3 Showing details of the fixed jaw locking blocks and locking screws.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of an attachment for gripping roundarticles.

ICC

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 7--7 ofFIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section'al View taken along the line 8-8 ofFIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the attachmentshown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan sectional View taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE9.

FIGURE l1 is a side elevational view of an attachment for holdingarticles larger than the maximum span obtainable between the xed andmovable jaws.

FIGURE 12 is a top view of the attachment shown in FIGURE l1.

FIGURE 13 is a front view partially broken away to show the method ofattachment of the clamping blocks to the top surface of the largearticle attachment.

FIGURE 14 is a Vertical longitudinal sectional view of this attachment.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a clamping bar of this attachment.

FIGURE 16 is `a perspective View of the nut block.

The vise 11 of this invention has a xed jaw 12 (FIG- URE l) whichextends upwardly and forwardly from a lixed body jaw 13 of `generallyhorizontal cylindrical shape. A horizontal disposed extension 14projects forwardly from the lowermost portion of the body 13. The jaw,body and extension are preferably one integral piece of steel casting.

The body 13 is horizontally rotatably seated in a manner to bedescribed, upon a circular base 15. This base 1.5 is securable to a workbench 16 or other solid supporting xture, as by bolts 17 with fasteningnuts, the bolts projecting into the fixture 16 through apertures 10 in acircular disk 18 which is an integrally formed lower portion of the base15. This disk 18 extends radially outwardly from a vertically disposedcylindrical central hub 19, of the base 15. The vertical cylindrical rimsurface 20 of this hub 19 is provided with an annular recess 26, whichpresents in vertical cross section a lower horizontal surface or shelf2S and an inwardly and downwardly inclined conically shaped surface 27,which at its lower edge joins at an acute angle the radially inner edgeof the shelf 28.

A lower rounded portion 21V of -the jaw body 13 is formed with avertically disposed cylindrical cavity 23 with an inside diameter suchthat it snugly fits over the hub 19. 'Ihe lower portion 21 of the jawbody is also formed with a lapped horizontal nether surface 25 whichslidably rotatably engages a top surface 22 of the disk 1S. The topsurface 29, of the hub 19, is spaced slightly below the nether surface30 of the cavity 23, which allows free turning of the body 13 on the hub19, in a complete circle.

In order to lock the lixed jaw 12 at any position of rotation about thebase 15, a locking block 33 and a locking screw 34 on each of twodiametrically opposite sides of the rounded portion of the lixed jawbody 13 are used as shown on the drawing .in a vertical sectional View(FIGURE 3) and in a fragmentary plan sectional view (FIGURE 5). Thelocking block 33 is contoured in such a way that its sloping face 31 andits Vertical face 35 fit closely against the conical surface 27 of thehub 19 and the lower annular portion of the vertical cylindrical surface20 of the hub.

The body 36 of the locking block 33 is contoured to lit Within a cavity37 having an arcuate rear wall 38, the cavity extending horizontallyradially outwardly from the inner bore surface of cavity 2.3 in therounded portion 21 of the xed jaw body 13. The locking screw 34 has itslocking end 40 set in a socket 42 in the rear surface 39 of the lockingblock 33. Its threaded end 44 threadedly engages a threaded aperture 45in the wall 43 of the rounded portion 21 of the fixed jaw body 13. Thusthe locking screw 34 may be tightened against the locking'b'lock 33,forcing the locking block 33 against the hub 19 and so locking the fixedjaw 12 in any desired angular position on the base 15. Removal of thelocking screws 34 from the wall 43 of the rounded portion 21 of the xedjaw 13, permits the disassembly of the fixed jaw from the base 15.

The body section 13 of the fixed jaw 12* has a central horizontal bore46 in which is longitudinally slidably mounted a hollow tube or shaft47. This tube 47 consttitutes a supporting body upon which is integrallymounted a movable jaw 48 which co-operates with the fixed jaw 12in theoperation of the vise. The front extension 14 of the body 13- of thefixed jaw 12 is formed with an elongated slot 49 of a width to snuglyreceive a nut block 50. The bottom wall 74 of the hollow tube 47 isformed with a slot 73 in transverse registry with slot 49.- This slot 73extends from a point near the front end of the tube 47 slightly morethan half of the distance to the rear end of the tube. The nut block isnormally held in position in the extension 14 in a Vmanner to bepresently explained, with its upper portion projecting upwardly throughthe slots 49 and 73 into the chamber of the bore of the tube 47 forengagement with the feed threads on an actuating rod 58 of the vise.

As seen in FIGURE 16, the nut block may be considered as consisting of abody 52, a horizontal rearward extension 53 of the lower portion of thebody 52 of the same width as the body 52, a horizontally disposed barrel56 of the same diameter as the width of the body, and extending from theforward end of the body to within a short distance from the rear endthereof, a neck 56 connecting the barrel and body which is of the sainelength as the barrel, and with its side faces inset from the sidevfacesof the body, and with a short rearward extension 53 of its lowerportion, terminating in a face 77 flush Iwith the rear face 52 of thebody 52. The body, barrel, neck, and extensions of the body and neck arepreferably machined from a single integral piece of steel.

TheV extension 53 of the nut block is rounded at its rear end,presenting a sernicircle in horizontal profile, and is formed with ahole 55 for the reception of a fastening screw 54. The upper threadedend of this screw is securable in a threaded hole 54 in an integrallyformed web 21 projecting forwardly at an upper level from the forwardside of the rounded portion 21 of the fixed jaw body 12, holding therear end of the nut block against Vertical displacement. This roundedrear end of the nut block extension 53, abuts horizontally a matinglyrounded surface 55 in the base portion 21 directly beneath the web 21'.`The nut block is thus locked against horizontal displacement rearwardly.

The front end face of the nut block is formed with a horizontaltransverse groove 51 of arcuate vertical cross section which fits snuglyagainst a convexly arcuate ridge 49' formed on a forward face of theextension 14, which face bounds the front end of the slot 49 in thisextension, this ridge being shaped to conform to the curve of the grooveV51. The rear surface 52 of the nut block body 52 and the rear surface77 of the rear extension 53 of the neck 56 are also slightly arcuate invertical cross section about a center which is approximately that of thearcs of the groove 51 and ridge 49. When the fastening screw 54 isremoved, the nut block is free to drop downward, its rear end describinga short arc about its front end until the rear end of the neck 56 of thenut block clears theV web 21', whereupon it is free to drop clearof thevise assembly. It is free to be thus disassembled,.however, only whenthe nut block is not being engaged by the actuating screw of theactuating rod 58 in a mannento be now described.

Within the barrel 56 is pressed an internally threadedV bronze bushing57. Threaded into the'bronze bushing 57 of the nut block barrel 56 is amatchingly threaded actuating rod 58. The rod 58 is rotatably mountedand fixed against endwise movement at both ends of tube 47 and moves asa unitary part of the movable jaw assembly. Fixed on the forward andunthreaded end 63 of the actuating rod 58 isa ball 59' with a circularanged shoulder 6i). rIhe shoulder 60 is rotatably seated in a circularrecess 61 in the front portion 64 of the movable jaw 4S. For smoothrotation of the anged shoulder 60 of the ball 59 a slip washer 63 isinserted between the face 66 of the lianged shoulder 64) and face 65 ofthe recess 61.

The bore chamber of the tube 47 is'partially closed at its front end byan integrally formed internal ange 47 and at its rear end by a plug 71.The flange 47 and plug 71 are bored at 62 and 67 to provide bearings forthe rotation of the rod 58. The forward portion of this rod isofsomewhat larger diameter than the rearward portion and is threaded forengagement with the bronze bushing 57. The rearward portion is smoothsurfaced, except at its rear end 66, which is threaded.

The actuating rod 58 is restrained from forward movement within thehollow tube 47 by a retaining nut 68 and a retaining nut locknut 69, onthis threaded end 66 of the rod 58'. A slip washer 70 is placed betweenthe retaining nut 68 and the rear face of the plug 71, for smoothrotation of the actuating rod 58. The ease of rotation of the actuatingrod is determined by the degree to which the retaining nut 68 istightened upon the threaded rear end 66 of the actuating rod 58.

Rotation of the actuating rod 58 is accomplished by rotation of a crankrod 89 which is snugly, but slidably inserted within bore 9i) centeredthrough the ball 59 of the actuating rod 58. Crank rod balls 91 arepressed on each end of the crank rod 89 to prevent the crank rod 89 fromslipping through the bore 9i)y of the ball 59.

Operation of the vise is as follows. Since the actuating rod 58 isthreaded internally within the block 50, rotational movement of theactuating rod by means of the crank rod S9 will produce longitudinalmovement of the actuating rod with respect to the nut block Sti. Sincethe nut block is longitudinally xed on the jaw assembly 12, and theactuating rod 58 is longitudinally fixed on the jaw assembly y48,longitudinal movement of the actuating rod 58 with respect to the nutblock 50 produces an equal longitudinal movement of the movable jaw 48-with respect to the xed jaw 12. A clockwise movement of the crank rodS9 in a vertical plane closes the vise jaws in a clamping action, andvice versa.

VYThe bottom face 75 of the front portion of the hollow tube 47 of themovable jaw 48 is plane surfaced. The bore 46 of the fixed jaw 12 is socentered in the fixed jaw body 13 that when the hollow ltube 47 of themovable jaw is inserted in the bore 46, the plane-surface 75 of thehollow tube 47 is held firmly against the plane-surfaced top face 72 ofthe front extension 14 of the fixed jaw 12. By this construction themovable jaw 48 is firmly held and prevented from a twisting rotation in-a vertical plane with respect to the fixed jaw 12,

The nut block also functions as a stop to limit movement of the movablejaw away from the fixed jaw 12. The slot 73 of the hollow tube 47'is sodimensioned longitudinally that the rear face 76 `of the slot 73 willContact the rear face 77 of the nut block neck 56, stopping movement ofthe movable jaw 48 away from the fixed jaw 12 while a substantial areaof the forward plane-surfaced bottom face 75 of the hollow tube 47 ofthe movable jaw `48 is still in contact with the plane-surfaced top face72 of the front extension 14 of the fixed jaw 12. Thus the frontplane-surfaced bottom face 75 of the hollow tube 47 is stopped fromextending forward past the lip 78 of the front extension 14 of the fixedjaw 12.

The clamping grip 79 of the movable jaw 43 is at the tip of a relativelynarrow curvilinear root or neck 82 on the front portion S6 of the hollowtube 47. The clamping grip 86 of the fixed jaw 12 istat the ti-p of arelatively narrow root or neck 88 on the upper body portion 87 of thefixed jaw 12. By the use of such construction articles shaped forexample like a T, may be clamped with the narrow portion between theclamping grips 79 and 80, and with the wide portion disposed beneath thegrips between the roots 82 and 88 of the movable and fixed jawsrespectively.

The gripping surfaces S4 and 85 of the grips 79 and 80 are case hardenedin the conventional manner.

The slot 73 in the bottom wall of tube 47 (FIGURE 2) has a narrowerrearward portion 73a and a wider forward portion 7317. The forwardportion has parallel sided portion 73C between its arcuate contouredends, which is the length of the nut block vbarrel 56. The width of therear portion 73a is sufhcient to snugly embrace the inset side surfacesof the neck S6 of the nut block. The width of the wider forward portionis sufficient to allow vertical passage of the barrel of the nut blockin the course of its insertion or removal from the chamber of the tube47. In removing the nut block, the nuts 68 and 69 are first removed andthe actuating rod 58 is then turned in the nut block until it isdisengaged from the nut block. The rod is then removed from the viseassembly. The movable jaw assembly is then slipped to its extremerearward position '(if not already in that position) in which the slotportion 73c is directly below the nut block barrel. The nut block isthen removed from the vise assembly in the manner which was earlierstated.

FIGURES 6 to l0 show the construction and method of attachment of twoauxiliary jaws 103 and 104 to the vise described in the foregoing partof the specification and shown in FIGURES l to 5 of the drawings. Theseauxiliary jaws which will be designated as a Whole as attachment A, arefor gripping round objects such as pipes, shafts, `and other cylindricalor curvilinear surfaced work articles.

Jaws 103 and 104 are very similar in construction. Jaw 103 is attachableto the fixed jaw 12 of the vise. I aw 104 is attachable to the movablejaw 48. Jaw 103 has 'a body portion 105 from which gripping teeth 106project forwardly and a pair of anchoring wings 107 project rearwardly.These wings 107 have horizontal straight line lower edges 108 which resttightly against the upwardly facing surface of the main cylindricalportion 37 of the body 13.

The base body 105 of the auxiliary jaw 103 has a top and rearwardlysloping rounded convex surface 109 (FIGURE 9) vwhich fits tightlyagainst the continuous concave forwardly facing surface 110 of the grip80, root 88 and top portion 87 of the body 13. The bottom surface 111 of105 is concavely rounded upwardly, longitudinally centrally of its widthat 111:1 to nest solidly upon the convex cylindrical surface of thelarger diametered forward end portion 47a of the tube 47 of the frontjaw, when the two jaws of the vise are in closed position. FIGURE 6shows the `dierent diameters of the two end portions 47a and 4'7b of thetube 47. If the two ends of the vise be brought together it is apparentfrom this FIGURE 6 that the nether surface 1110 would rest solidly uponthe rear portion of the surface of 47a.

The wings are dished inwardly to t tightly and solidly against the sidesurfaces of the root 88 and are flared outwardly -to their lower edges108 to similarly solidly engage the upper surface of the cylindricalportion 87 of the body of the xed jaw 12. In brief if the auxiliary jaw103 be moved horizontally rearwardly into the rearmost position sho-wnin FIGURES 6, 9 and l0, one surface or other of the body and wings ofthe auxiliary jaw abuts solidly, either upwardly, rearwardly, downwardlyor laterally, some surface of the jaw 12 and its body 13, leaving itfree to move in one direction only, i.e. forwardly, as far as theadjacent contacting walls are concerned.

Movement in that direction is prevented by a pair of spring-urgedflat-headed pins 112, which are mounted in small housing bosses 114integrally formed on the outer sides of the wings, respectively, andwhich snap into holes 101 respectively so placed in the sides of theneck 88 that they become alined with the pins when the wings havereached their rearmost home position. In this position the wings, andwith them the auxiliary jaw bodies and jaw grips are as immovably a partof the Vise main jaw to which they are attached as though they weresolidly bolted to that main jaw, and for all operative purposes assolidly as though they were an integral part of the main jaw. And yetthey are removable by the simple expedient of pulling the pins 112 awayfrom each other by the fingers of the two hands of the operator and thenwith the fingers still on the fiat heads of these pins, pulling theauxiliary jaw forwardly toward the front of the vise. In the operativeposition it will be noticed that the auxiliary jaw is held in positionbeneath the grip of the main jaw, a relative position made possible bythe relatively great height of the grips of the main jaws above thehollow tube or shaft 47 of the movable main jaw 48.

The movable auxiliary jaw 104, while otherwise similar in general shapeto the fixed auxiliary jaw 103, has shorter wings 116 longitudinally ofthe vise and the wings 116 may be spaced slightly closer together attheir lower edges than are the wings 107 due to the slightly smallerdiameter of the forward portion 47a of the tube 47 of the main movablejaw than that of the top body portion 87 of the main fixed jaw 48. Sincethe roots 82 and 8S are of the same transverse width7 the spacing of thewings 116 at the location of the pins 117 (corresponding to the pins 112of the other auxiliary jaw 103) is the same as that of the wings 107.The movable jaw 104 has a body 113, gripping teeth 115, and spring urgedpins 117 housed in bosses 113 on the sides of the root 82, which arecounterparts of the similar numbers on the fixed jaw. Pins 117 snap intoholes 102 in the neck 82. The movable auxiliary jaw 104- also has itssurfaces similarly tightly and solidly related to surfaces on the mainmovable jaw as is true of the fixed auxiliary jaw in the manner alreadyrelated in describing the fixed auxiliary jaw 103.

The gripping teeth 106 and 115 of auxiliary jaws 103 and 104respectively may be of any conventional or.

desirable type which satisfactorily grip and hold against rotation workitems such as pipe and other objects of curvilinear section. The teethof the auxiliary jaws shown in the drawing of this invention areintegral extensions outwardly from the jaw bodies and 113 respectively.The teeth 106 are produced by first machining the outwardly projectingportion of the body 105 to present a plane surface sloping upwardly andoutwardly from the transverse axis line 119 o-f the vise to the topsurface of the body, a second plane surface sloping downwardly andoutwardly from the axis line 119, a horizontal plane nether surface 120and a vertical plane surface 121 set back from the vertical plane of theaxis line 119 extending from the nether surface 120` to the nethersurface 111:1 of the body 10S (see FIGURES 6 and 9). A first series ofnarrow kerfs 122 are then milled in the body 105 extending from the topsurface 109 of the body downwardly and outwardly to the axis line 119: asecond series of narrow kerfs 123 are then milled in the same planes asthe kerfs 122 extending downwardly and inwardly from the axis line 119to the surfaces 120 and 121. These machining operations leave a set ofV-shaped teeth 106 with an obtuse angle of the V at the axis line 119and the straight line legs of the V extending, one upwardly andoutwardly, and the other downwardly and outwardly from this axis line.The teeth have approximately the 'same thickness as the width of thekerfs 122 and 123.

The teeth of the movable auxiliary jaw are similarly formed, with,however, the teeth in the same planes as the kerfs 122, and 123 of theteeth of the xed auxiliary jaw, the two sets of teeth being thusinterleaved and transversely overlapping each other to provide a veryeffective and powerful grip on a rounded work article.

FIGURES ll to l show an attachment which will be designated asattachment B, comprising a pair of auxiliary jaws 139 and 131 forholding articles of greater gripping width than the maximum span of themain jaw grips 79 and Si). Attachment B is especially suited for holdingwooden boards, rails, etc. for woodworking operations thereon.

Auxiliary jaw 135 of attachment B has a top work holding plane-surfacedtable 132 and a front depending ange or apron 133 integrally formed withthe table 132 which when the jaw 13) is in working position on the viseis disposed in front of, and in contact with, the grip 80 of the fixedmain jaw of the vise. The auxiliary jaw also has a rear upstandingtransverse ilange 134 integrally joined to the table at its rear edge,and a pair of webs 13S spaced apart from each other and integrallyformed at their upper edges with the table and at their front edges withthe flange 133. These Webs 135 are braced with a transverse verticallydisposed block 136, which is integrally joined at its two ends with theinner side faces of the webs 135 and is integrally joined at itsuppermost portion with the under surface of the table 132. The block 136is plane surfaced at its vertical rear face 139 and is concave on itsforward face 140 this concave surface 14() beginning at the lower edgeof its vertical rear face and terminating at the under surface of thetable.

The rear lower portions of the webs 135 are formed with bosses 137 inwhich are seated spring urged flatheaded pins 138 like the`corresponding bosses and pins in attachment A. rlfhese pins are mountedon the webs in a position adapted for their entry into the holes 101 inthe root portion 83 of the main jaw 12. The webs 135 rather snuglyembrace the sides of the root 8?, and the concave surface 140 restssolidly upon the top surface of the root 88. The forward end portions ofthe webs are flared outwardly and upwardly to their upper forward endswhere they are joined to the ange 133. The central portion of the flange133, just under the table, is formed with a rectangularly outlinedrecess 141 of a vertical width and transverse length to snugly andsolidly tightly receive the grip Si) of the main fixed jaw.

The auxiliary jaw 136 is attached to its main jaw for operative purposesby moving the auxiliary jaw downwardly until the plate 132, just to therear of its ange 133, rests upon the grip 8G of the main jaw and theconvex surface 140 of the block 136 rests upon the root SS. The pins 138are grasped by the fingers of the two hands and pulled apart and thenrearwardly until the main grip `80 enters the recess 1141 and solidlyengages its wall surfaces and the pins 138 fall into place in the holes101. The block now solidly engages the back of the root S8 and thearched rear portion of the body of the fixed main jaw. The auxiliary jawnow cannot move appreciably in any direction and becomes a xed part ofthe main jaw.

The movable auxiliary jaw 131 is formed similarly to the fixed auxiliaryjaw 139 with a somewhat shorter table 142, a depending flange 143, anupstanding ange 144, a bracing block 145, a pair of webs 146, and arecess 147 for reception of the grip 79 of the main movable jaw. It isassembled on the main movable jaw in a manner similar to the manner ofassembly of the auxiliary fixed jaw on the main ixed jaw.

The flanges y134 and 144 at the outer ends of the tables of the fixedand movable auxiliary jaws respectively serve as work grips for boardsor other wooden work articles. In addition to these lianges each of thetwo tables 132 and 142 is provided with a movable grip bar 148, 149,respectively which may be secured transversely of the table in any of aplurality of positions. For this purpose each table is formed with anumber of rectangular apertures 1511 arranged in pairs, the apertures ofeach pair being transversely alined across the table. As shown in thedrawing, table 132 has three such pairs of apertures and table 142 hastwo such pairs of apertures. The inner wall of each aperture extendsfrom the table top vertically downwardly for a short distance, then isinclined inwardly toward the center of the vise for a further shortdistance and again extends vertically downward to the under surface ofthe table.

The grip bars 14S and 149 are identical in construction. Their length isthe same as the width of the table. Each has an inner work-engagingvertical grip face 151 on a vertical leg 152 of the bar, a horizontaltable en gaging face 153 on a horizontal leg 154 of the bar, and an endweb 15S at each end of the bar. Depending from each bar are a pair oflugs 156, rectangular in cross section, one at each end of the bar.These lugs are spaced to register with the associated apertures and areof a rectangular shape, depth and size to snugly enter these aperturesand thereby hold the bar against sliding lateral movement in anydirection over the table. Each bar may be selectively secured to thetable at the location of any pair of apertures.

To prevent unintended dislodgment of the bars from position on thetable, the lugs are shaped on their inner transverse faces to conform tothe shape of the apertures l t? and are rounded on their outertransverse faces to facilitate intentional withdrawal or placement ofthe bars. A bar will not move upwardly in a straight vertical pathbecause of the hook-shaped lower lug end 157, but may be intentionallyseparated from the table by giving the bar a combined upward and rollingmovement with respect to its longitudinal axis and thereafter lifting itfrom the table.

These bars malte it possible to provide a wide variety of work spansbetween jaw grips, for engagement with a wide variety of work articleshaving a wide variation in their grip spans. The maximum span of theauxiliary jaws between flanges 134 and 144 is far greater than themaximum span of the main jaws, and yet the auxiliary jaws may beadjusted to grip very narrow boards or wooden strips, either between thebars at their innermost positions, or between the depending flanges 133and 143.

l claim:

l. ln a bench vise, the combination of: a stationary main jaw assembly,a movable main jaw assembly suitably disposed and related to thestationary main jaw assembly for gripping work objects between the twojaw grips of the two assemblies, an auxiliary stationary jaw assemblyattachable to the stationary main jaw assembly, and an auxiliary movablejaw assembly attachable to the movable main jaw assembly, each of saidauxiliary jaw assemblies comprising a table, a front ilange dependingfrom said table, a pair of spaced webs depending from said table andextending rearwardly from said ange, a recess being formed at thejuncture of said flange with said table and between said webs for snuglyreceiving therein the jaw grip of the respective main jaw assembly, ablock depending from said table and rearwardly displaced with respect tosaid ilange for supporting said table on said respective main jawassembly in substantially horizontal position, each of said main jawassemblies having formed therein oppositely disposed, substantiallyaligned recesses, and resiliently urged pins carried by each of saidwebs and engageable in said recesses for holding the auxiliary jawassembly against movement in one direction, and each of said tableshaving an upwardly extending auxiliary jaw grip and said auxiliary jawgrips being so disposed for gripping work objects of greater width thancan be accommodated between the jaw grips of the two main assemblies.

2. The combination defined in claim l, in which the table of each of theauxiliary jaw assemblies has formed therein a plurality of pairs ofvertical apertures arranged transversely of the table; and also includesa cross bar having a pair of pins sized and spaced to t Within saidapertures.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS StephensOct. 20, 1874 Stoughton May 2, 1905 Blackmore Aug. 23, 1910 Strand Jan.16, 1923 Rankin Mar. 14, 1933 Germany Oct. 1, 1921

